DROITWICH clinched an important double over Burghill and Tillington, with the firsts moving up to second place in the Worcestershire Premier Division and the seeconds closing the gap on the promotion places to just 16 points.

The long trip to Herefordshire proved fruitful for Spa's firsts as they secured a 58-run victory with another solid all-round performance.

Having been inserted on a green wicket, brothers Max and Jake Young rode their luck in the early exchanges before building a superb century opening stand.

However their departures in quick succession for 63 and 38 respectively saw Droitwich slip to 119-4 before Paul Bryan and Gary Cartwright steadied the ship with a fifth-wicket partnership of 60 as the visitors eventually closed on 225-8.

Burghill's reply got off to a rapid start as they rattled up 50 in only the seventh over.

Turning point of the game came when leg-spinner Jake Young captured the crucial wicket of Symonds, which provoked a series of irresponsible shots from the home batsmen as they slumped to 121-5 against the guile of Young and fellow spinner Martyn Davies.

With the ball a little older, Phil Thomas then bagged three wickets and off-spinner Gary Cartwright two as Spa secured victory with wicket-keeper Jay Da Costa poaching five victims on his return from holiday.

Another man proving to be suitably rejuvenated from a vacation was Martin Keen, whose unbeaten 71 was vital in the Seconds four-wicket win.

Burghill proved gallant opponents as they posted 205-9 and then reduced Spa to 125-5 before Keen fresh from a Portuguese break and captain Karl Goddard shared a vital sixth-wicket stand to help the home side maintain their promotion push.

Tom Gregory was the latest Droitwich batsman to notch a century as the Thirds amassed 321-4 declared against Five Ways Old Edwardians. The opener hit 117 and was well supported by the in-form Ash Walton (59) and Dave Purchase (86).

Agonisingly Spa were deprived victory by a last-wicket pairing and had to settle for the winning draw, which leaves them level at the top of the table with Coombs Wood where they travel on Saturday for what could be a title decider.

A captain's innings of 77 not out from Mark Osborne saw the Fourths snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they recovered from 39-6 to chase down their target of 181 against Bromyard.

Prolific batsman James King was also impressive but this time with the ball as he collected 5-14 in the nail biting three-wicket success.